Coin-control mechanism



April 10, 1956 Filed March 9, 1953 E. PARRE COIN-CONTROL MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. EDWIN PARRE April 10, 1956 E. PARRE 2,741,354

COIN-CONTROL MECHANISM Filed March 9, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EDWIN PARRE April 10, 1956 PARRE COIN-CONTROL MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 9, 1953 INVENTOR EDWIN PARRE United States Patent C COIN-CONTROL MECHANISM Edwin Palre, Aurora, 111., assignor to Stonei Manufacturing Corporation, Aurora, EL, a corporation of Illinois Application March 9, 1953, senaiivmsiihbsv SClaiin's. ((1194-55) The invention relates to coin-controlled vending machines and more articularlly'to improt en'ierit'sfi'n that type of machine which is manually 'o'p'e ate 53: the customer following the deposit of a coin or "coins.

Vending machines of this character iniilud'e mechanism responsive to the deposit of a coin or coins effective to selectively release locking mechanism 'nnrinaily preventing the operation of the vending mechanism. One form of such mechanism includes a plurality of lock 'ga'tes normally lying in the path of slida'b'ly reciprocahle means, which gates are selectively moved into and held in an imlockin'g positionby the presence of a coin in close association therewith. Heretofore, each lock gate hail a associated therewith for direct engagement by the coin. In such devices the cam a'rrn 'siid'es along the lock gate :dnring machine operation to unlock the lock gate. rreien ea use under service conditions results in wearing of 'th'e'cams and the engaged surfaces of the lock gate to such a degree that the lock "gates fail to move the distance necessary to release the locking mechanism. When -this occurs the machine is no longer serviceable.

I present invention is concerned with the provision of a "coin-controlled locking mechanism embodying novel 'sfrnctfiral charaoteristics adapting the mechanism to long service with a amount of wear and it "is one of the objects of the invention to provide siich a mechanism. I I

Another object of the invention is to provide a coin- Contiolled locking mechanism for a vending apparatus Wlf'i'ih there is no .sli'diifg between The locking gate Oi parts associated therewith and "the coin during machine operation.

Another-object is to provide a lock mechanism, incinei'n' unlockin means which is free froni all contac '"by the com-moving means unless a coin is actually in place for the specific "purpose of unlocking the lock mechanism.

Mather object is to provide a locking 'g'ate Ifdr 'a coincdntrtilled'mec'hanishi with 'nov'el'coin'engaging mea'n's.

'Another object is to provide a coin-control structure embodying the "features of the invention and which is not costly to'nianufacture and asseriihle, is tamper-proof and is positive in operation. 7

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, ar- 'rangnient and combination of parts hereinafter f1illy d'e'sci'ibed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particlilarlypointed out in the appended claims, .-it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be ihade without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the-advantages of the invention.

For the purpose ofiacilitating an understanding-of my invention, I have illustrated-in the accompanying drawingsa preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when consideredin connection with-the following edescription, my invention, its mode of construction,

2. assembly andope'ratidn, and many of its advantages shonldbe' readily understood and appreciated.

Referrin to "the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings: 7 v

Fig. 1 is an eieva'tional view of the coin control "mechanism embodying the features of the present invention and 'iIiustrating it mounted upon the right-hand side of a ve ding machine and showing portions of one of its Walls *b i'o ken away.

Fig. 2 "isaneievational view o'tth'e coi control 'nie'h anisrn viewed from "the opposite side to 'thati'n which it is shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is "a horizontal sectional detail view taken substantiailyinhnefs s'of Fig. 'lfand showing, inas'soeiation therewith, ap'orti'on'(ifthevendingcontrol mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the loc'it gate in the position assumed u'p'on initial 'ac'tua'tion'of the coin control me hanism.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view similar to Fig. showing-the parts in the ositions assumed at the compiet ion of a cycle-0T operation.

Fig. *6 is a perspective view of the 'lock gate and its earn elei'rielit I he invention isc'oncerned with a 'coin control mechanism anti mere par't'iciilarly with the locking ate 'consfti uc'tidn which is constructed to remain serviceable ever a itting pencil of time because wear is minimized. A v'e'n'di'ng rria'cliineof the general ch'ara'ctert'o which he no el "coin control mechanism is hest -suit'ed is fiiliy disclosed in sinner e't 'a'l., Weren't Ne. 21324;(340, .gra'rited Zliily 1 3, 1943, -"an' i because the vending mechanism 'pe'r s'e, i-ifclittiingthe coin selector, the plunger-actuated "vench ing meehanism and the stacks for the merchandise constitut no part off-the present invention, the are not eis 'losed in detail in the' -'6rawings accompanying "fliis ap lication. The 'ifne'ch ahisni embodying the present invention is'rn'tifited onthe righ hanazside-nf the vending machine wh'e'n the machine is viewed fro'rn the front. The coin selector is, of course, --'of a typ'e that will reject ail fal'se "coins, ben't coins or coins or -a wrong iienomination and ao'cep't 5 pieces only. 'The vending machine with which this mechanism is associated 'is, therefore, adjusted to deliver To th'e cusfemermechendise valued at five -oents, sene 3158 3-33 tv'v'etity "cents. It will he'com'e obvious, however, that-the fea'ture of the present inven tion can he emhndieii gin -"co'in control devices which operate with cement other deneminati'ons and in other nunihers. 1 1

Referring now fo ine accom anyin drawirrgs the reference character 11 'Eig. 1) designates ene'raliy a stack, ofwhich there may be several, arrangea side b'y side in=aveniing machine, and within which is disposedthe'comni'oditie's -to he vlided. The novel doiheflfitftil mechanism, generall indicated at 12, is "mounted upon the right-hand 'side of th'e :staeks 11 and its eonstraction and operation will 'be described in detail pres'ently. The coin control mechanism has associated with it a coin selecter, indicated-generally at 13 "(Fig -2 'which'may be of any conventional construction a'nd' includes a raceway 14 1through which coins accepted are deiiverd 'to the coin control mechanism.

.The coin control mechanism '12 includes a "'main plate 15 to which is attached an attxiliaryplate 15 by means of JSCI'GWS'OF rivets 17. Meansis'provided preferably' by upsetting thenrea of either or'both lates at".the openings for th'e rivet's 1or s'cr'ew's 1 7 to maintainthe piates 'iSwahd 16 in spaced relationship with the dis't'an'ce het ween therii heing slightlygreater t han the-coin fonwhitzh the mechanism .is'adesigned. --'In the ernbodinient shown' the space between thetplate's 15 and 16 is of a size slightly greater arenas;

vided and, upon referring to Fig. 1 which best illustrates their construction, it will be observed that the members 22 are arranged edge to edge and that the two lowermost sliding members have recessed ends 23. The uppermost sliding member 22 has a pair of recesses 24 provided in its inwardly disposed end. These four recesses adapt the coin control mechanism to accommodate four coins during one operation of' the machine. Each member 22 also has a portion extending perpendicular therefrom, as at 25 (Fig. 2), which portions extend through the respective slots 21.

Upon referring to Fig. 3 it will be observed that the projecting portion 25 of the upper member 22, is notched at 26 to receive the end 27 of an operating lever 28. There are three such levers associated with the coin control mechanism but inasmuch as these levers constitute a part of the conventional vending mechanism only one is shown; it being understood, of course, that the remaining two levers which are not illustrated cooperate one with each of the two lower slide plates 22. During machine operation, at which time a piece of merchandise is to be vended, one or more of the levers 28 is actuated in such manner as to move its free end 27 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3. When this occurs the sliding member associated with the lever being moved is shifted to the right. Such sliding movement of the sliding members 22 is, however, limited by the presence of lock gates 29, one or more of which is associated with each sliding member. These lock gates are alike and are constructed in the manner best illustrated in Fig. 6. As there shown, the lock gate 29 includes parallel side walls 31 and a connecting end wall 32. The side walls have aligned openings 33 through which is extended a pivot pin 34 (Fig. 2). The pivot pin 34 is common to all of the lock gates and it is securely mounted on the auxiliary plate 16 by having its ends journaled in cars 35 and'36 which preferably are struck out of the auxiliary plate 16.

When the lock gates are mounted in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a lug 37 provided on an edge of the end wall 32 of each lock gate, extends through a respective opening 38 in the auxiliary plate 16 so as to dispose the lug in the space between the main plate 15 and auxiliary plate 16. Springs 30 retain the lock gates in the locking position shown in Fig. 3. It should be quite obvious that with the lugs 37 projecting into the space between the two plates, sliding movement of the sliding member 22 is limited. It is, therefore, necessary to provide means for selectively rotating one, two or all of the lock gates about the pivot pin 34 a distance sufficient to lift the lug or lugs out of the path of the respective sliding members before said members can be shifted to the right (Fig. 3) so as to complete a cycle of operation.

The lifting or rocking of any one. of the lock gates 29 is determined by the presence or absence of a coin or coins in the path of the sliding member to be shifted. In Fig. 1 there are illustrated four coins. As a consequence, upon machine operation, all three sliding members 22 may be shifted through a complete cycle of sliding operation. The specific mode of operation whereby any one of lock gates 29 is rocked so as to remove its lug 37 from the space between the plates is perhaps best illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

Upon referring to Figs. 1 and 3 it will be noted that four coins 39 are located between the main plate 15 and the auxiliary plate 16 to the right of the lugs 37 on the lock gates 29. When the machine is actuated to shift, for example, all four sliding members 22, illustrated in Fig. 1, said sliding members will move to the right until the end of their recesses 23 and 24 abut the related lugs 37 (Fig. 3). During this movement of the sliding member the prongs 40 defined by the recesses 23 and 24 are carried into contact with the coins 39 and cause said coins to be pushed to the right in advance of the sliding members 22. When this occurs each coin 39 becomes actively engaged with a cam element 41, one carried by each of the loci: gates 29. Specifically, the cam element 41 is pivotally mounted at 42 and it includes a cam surface 43 which terminates at one end in a finger 44 and at its other end in a deep recess 45, defining a second finger 46. Referring again to Fig. 3 the cam 41 is held normally in the position there illustrated by means of a torsion spring 47 so as to locate the recess 45 thereof in such position as to admit the coin 39. The manner and sequence of movement of the sliding members 22 will be described presently, it being sufficient at this time to describe the action of but one of said members.

Upon initial sliding of a sliding member 22, which carries the coin or coins 39 in advance of it, the leading edge of the coin is brought into contact with the inside face of the finger 46, whereupon the cam 41 is rotated about its pivot 42 so as to carry its cam surface 43 into bearing contact with the opposed face of the coin 39. This initial or intermediate position of the cam 41 is best illustrated in Fig. 4 where, it will be observed, the engagement between the cam surface 43 and the opposed face of the coin 39 has caused the lock gate 29 to be rocked in a clockwise direction about its pivot pin 34, a distance sufiicient to lift the lug 37 out of the path of the related sliding member 22. The sliding member 22 is now free to continue its sliding movement, pushing the coin 39 in advance thereof, during which movement the cam surface 43 rolls upon the face of the coin until such time as the finger 44 moves into the path of the sliding member 22 to effect positive ejection of the coin, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The ejected coin 39 falls into an enlarged chamber 48 provided for its reception by offsetting a portion of the main plate 15. The coin is then free to drop into the usual coin receptacle provided in machines of this character.

The slide members 22 are so constructed that they'may be moved successively only. To this end, the lower sliding member 22 (Fig. 1) has a shoulder 51 normally abutted by a shoulder 52 on the adjacent sliding member 22.- Similarly, said adjacent sliding member, has a shoulder 51a, normally abutted by a shoulder 52a on the top sliding member 22. It should be quiteapparent that when a 5 piece is deposited in the coin control mechanism it will come to rest upon a shelf 53 in the path of the lowermost sliding member 22. When the proper mechanism is actuated for vending a piece of merchandise having the value of five cents, only the lower one of the plurality of levers 28 is rocked, thus slidingthe lowermost sliding member only. When a piece of merchandise hav ing the value of ten cents is to be vended, .two 5 pieces are deposited and come to rest in edgewisepositionupon the shelf 53, with one 5 piece in the path of each of the two lower sliding members 22. Consequently, manipulation of the vending mechanism for the purpose of vending a piece of merchandise having a value of ten cents will result in sliding movement of the two lower sliding members. Should there be but one 5 piece deposited in the coin control mechanism and the vending mechanism oper able to vend a 10 piece of merchandise is actuated, said vending mechanism will be prevented from operating because the second sliding member will be prevented from being advanced with the lowermost sliding member owing to the presence in its path of the related lug 37.

In order to vend a piece of merchandise having a 20 value, four 5 pieces are placed in the coin control mechamused 5 must necessarily be advanced in order "to permit actuation *of the vending mechanism provided for the vending of merchandise havingavaimer 20'cei1t's.

Sliding motion or an one or all or the -'slidfiig members 22 must be completed to the ends er their stroke'to revent fraudulent manipulation of the device. In order to "accomplish this, there is pix e-tally mounted on "the main plate as a pawl 54 having 'an operating portion 55 and'two leg portions 56. The pawl '54 is rot'a'tably mounted, as by mean or a rivet 57 and is maintained so that the portion '55 is normall -in a vertical position by reason of the pull exerted thereon by a pair of-coiled springs 58, which springs are attached to the legs 56 of the pawl "54 and to ears or pins 59 provided on a main plate '15. In operation as the loweimost sliding member 2=Zis moved to "the right, the serrated edge "61 of a block 62, secured firmly "to the 'slidingme'mber 22, will engage the pawl 54 and move the same in a clockwise direction, thereby per-v rfiit ting the serrated edge to pass freely th'e're'ove'r. Obvieasly the sliding member 22 cannot be returned to its initial osition prior to the portion '55 of the pawl '54 having cleared the senses edge 6i. When this occurs, the pawl 54 is free to be re-engaged by the serrated edge during the rdturn movement of the lowermost sliding member 22.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction-and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood "from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifest that While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A coin control mechanism comprising a pair of spaced apart plates, means to direct a coin along a predetermined path between said plates, a plurality of sliding members arranged edge to edge between said plates, abutting shoulders on the opposed edges of said members to render said members selectively movable in succession, lock gates pivotally mounted on one face of one of said plates, each including a lug normally extending between said plates to prevent unlimited movement of the sliding members, cam members one pivotally mounted on each lock gate each having a portion extending between the plates, means to support coins in edge to edge relationship between the plates and in the paths of the sliding members, said coins engaging the cams to pivot the lock gates when the sliding members are initially moved and carry the lugs out of the paths of said sliding members to permit said members to complete a cycle of sliding operation, said cams having a rolling engagement with the coins after the lock gates have been lifted sufilciently to permit the sliding members to move the coins beneath the cams, and a second projecting portion extending from the terminal end of the cam surface, said projecting portion extending between said plates upon suflicient rotation of the cam for engagement by the sliding member, said second projecting portion causing further rotation of said cam.

2. A coin control mechanism comprising a pair of spaced apart plates, means to direct a coin along a predetermined path between said plates, a plurality of sliding members arranged edge to edge between said plates, abutting shoulders on the opposed edges of said members to render said members selectively movable in succession, pivotally mounted lock plates, each including a lug normally extending between said spaced plates to prevent unlimited movement of the sliding members, cam members one pivotally mounted on each lock plate each having a portion extending between the spaced plates, means to support coins in edge to edge relationship between the spaced plates and in the paths of the sliding members, said coins engaging the cams to pivot the lock plates when the sliding members are initially moved and carry the hrgs out'of the paths of said sliding members to said members 1:0 complete a cycle of sliding operation, said 'cams having a rolling'engager'nent with thecoins "after the lock plates have been titted sutfi'ciently to permit "the sliding members To move theeoins beneath the and a second projecting portion extending from the tefrhiiifl end of the cam suria'ce, :said projecting portion ere-tending between said spaced plates upon 'sufii'cient fotatio of "the cam for en agement by the sliding member, "said second projecting portion eansin'g farth'errotation of said 6am.

3. A coin control mechanism comprising a pair of Spaced apart 1313588, means l6 dif'c't a C(iiii aTbflg a predetermined path between said plates, a sliding member between said plates, a lock gate pivotally mounted on one face of one of said plates, said lock gate including a lug rr'oiinally exrending betfieh said plates to prevent u'aiiniited movement of the sliding member, a eam menibe ipivdtaily mounted on the reer gate "aving a portion extending between the plates, means to sup er: a train between the plates and in the path of s d sliding memher and earn engaging the can; to pivot the lock ga'te when the sliding member is initially moved and carry the lug out of the of said sliding member to permit said member to complete it cycle of sliding operation, said-cam having a roliiiig en agement with the coil! after the lock ga't'e has been lifted su-lfic iently to permit the sliditig member to mate the coin beneath the cam, and a presenting poftfdn iit'endiii'g "man the terminal end of the s'u'rfac'e, said protesting portion extending between grates tip'on shific ien't i'btatioh 6f the *cai'n for engagement by the sliding member, said projecting portion causing further rotation of the cam.

4. A lock gate for a coin control mechanism comprising an arm pivotally mounted at one end and having a projection at its other end adapted normally to limit movement of a sliding member in one direction, means to support a coin in the path of said sliding member, an eccentric carried by the arm engageable by the coin when the sliding member is initially moved in said one direction to cause the arm to move about its pivot in a direction that will render the projection inefiective, said eccentric having a rolling engagement with the coin after the arm has been lifted sufiiciently to permit the sliding member to move the coin beneath the eccentric, and a projecting portion extending from the terminal end of the eccentric surface, said projecting portion extending into the path of the sliding member upon sufiicient rotation of the eccentric for engagement by said sliding member, said projecting portion causing further rotation of said eccentric.

5. A coin control mechanism comprising a pair of spaced apart plates, a sliding member between said plates, a lock gate pivotally mounted on one face of one of said plates, said lock gate including a lug normally extending between the plates to prevent unlimited movement of the sliding member, a cam member pivotally mounted on the lock gate having a portion extending between the plates, means to support a coin between the plates in the path of the sliding member, said coin engaging the cam to pivot the lock gate when the sliding member is initially moved and carry the lug out of the path of said sliding member to permit said member to complete a cycle of sliding operation, said cam having a rolling engagement with the coin after the lock gate has been lifted sufliciently to permit the sliding member to move the coin beneath the cam and a second projecting portion on the cam, said projecting portion extending between the plates upon sufficient rotation of the cam for engagement by the sliding member, said projecting portion causing further rotation of the cam.

6. A coin control mechanism comprising a pair of spaced apart plates, a sliding member between said plates, a pivotally mounted lock gate, said lock gate including a lug normally extending between the plates to prevent unlimited movement of the sliding member, a cam memamass;

her pivotally mounted on the lock-'gatehaving a portion extending between the plates, means to supporta coin between the plates in the path of the sliding member, said coin engaging the cam to pivottthe lock gate when the sliding member is initially moved and carry the lug out of the path of said sliding member to permit said member to complete a cycle of sliding operation, said cam having a rolling engagement with the coin after the lock gate has been liftedsufiiciently to permit the sliding member to move the coin beneath the cam and a second projecting portion on the cam, said projecting portion extending between the plates upon suflicient rotation of the cam for engagement by the sliding member,

said projecting portion causing further rotation of the cam. V

7. A coin control mechanism comprising a pair of spaced apart plates, a sliding member between said plates, a lock gate pivotally mounted on one face of one of said plates, said lock gate including a lug normally extending between the plates to prevent unlimited movement of the sliding member in one direction, a cam member pivotally mounted on the lock gate having a portion ex tending between the plates, means to support a coin between the plates in the path of the sliding member, said coin engaging the cam to pivot the lock gate when the sliding member is initially moved in said one direction and carry the lug out of the path of said sliding member to permit said member-to complete a cycle of sliding operation, said cam having a rolling engagement with the coin after the lock gate has been lifted sufficiently to permit the sliding member to move the coin beneath the cam, and coin engaging means on the cam engageable by the sliding member to eject the coin when the sliding member approaches the limit of movementin said one direction,

8. A lock gate for a coin control mechanism comprising a movable lock member adapted normally to limit movement of a sliding member in one direction, means to support a coin in the path of said sliding member, an eccentric mechanically connected to said lock member enga'geable by the coin when the sliding member is tially moved in said one direction to cause the lock member to move in a direction that will render said lock member ineffective, said eccentric having a rolling en gag-ement with the coin after the lock member has been moved 'sufficiently to permit the sliding member to move the coin beneath the eccentric, and a projecting portion extending from the terminal end of the eccentric, said projecting portion extending'into the path of the sliding member upon sufi'icient rotation of the eccentric for engagement by said sliding member, said projecting portion causing further rotation of said eccentric.

References-Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 694,282 Hurd Feb. 25, 1902 849,609 Grover Apr. 9, 1907 2,324,040 Stoner July 13, 1943 

